Electrostatic principle rotating atomic motor

ABSTRACT

A motor shaft rotates from energy derived from charged particles emitted from atomic waste materials. The particles are stored in the shaft and exit radially by influence of a surrounding electric field to be received in a collector material. Vanes radially disposed about the shaft exchange energy electrostatically with the moving particles. A magnetic field causes the particles to move toward the vanes as they radially proceed from the shaft.

United States Patent [191 Dove 14 1 Jan. 2, 1973 54] ELECTROSTATIC PRINCIPLE 3,302,024 1/1967 Edling et al ..310/10 x ROTATING ATOMIC MOTOR Primary Examiner-D. X. Sliney [76] Inventor: Jack E. Pave, Rt. 4 PO. Box 96 BW mtomey Laurence Brown 23, Meridian, Miss. 39301 221 Filed: June 9, 1971 [57] ABSTRACT [211 App] No 151 368 A motor shaft rotates from energy derived from charged particles emitted from atomic waste materials. The particles are stored in the shaft and exit radi- 52 US. Cl ..310/10, 310/3 D, 310/6 y by influence of a Surrounding electric field to be 51 1m. (:1. ..H02n 1/00 F a collect material vanes radially 58 Field of Search ..310/3 R, 3 D, 5,6, 10; abut the slfaft exchfmge energy elecimsm' 250/106 cally with the moving partlcles. A magnetlc field causes the particles to move toward the vanes as they radially proceed from the shaft. [56] References Cited 6 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,999,407 4/1935 Dumont ..3l0/3 sis 8 fikfix PATENTEDJAN 2 ma 3.708.703

f G 2 INVENTOR JACK E. DOVE ATTORNEY ELECTROSTATIC PRINCIPLE ROTATING ATOMIC MOTOR This invention relates to electric motors and, more particularly, it relates to rotary motors operated by atomic materials.

It is desirable to convert the energies of waste atomic or nuclear materials into useful work by direct and efficient processes. These materials emit particles which travel away from the source with considerable kinetic energy.

Therefore, it is an object of the invention to transform the kinetic energy of moving charged particles directly into useful work.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide an electric motor using a source of charged particles as driving power.

Thus, in accordance with the invention, a source of particles is stored near the axis of a rotor having a plurality of radial blades so that the particles pass radially from the rotor and exchange kinetic energy with the blades to cause rotation of the rotor.

The invention will be described in more detail together with further features, objectives and advantages with reference to a preferred embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a side elevation view of a portion of a motor arrangement, partly in section, and

FIG. 2 is an end section view of the arrangement of FIG. 1 taken looking into lines 2-2.

The rotating shaft or rotor 5 can be coupled to any suitable work load and bearings (not shown) in a conventional manner. Stored near the axis of the shaft is a charge of atomic waste materials having charged atomic or nuclear particles such as alpha or beta rays as identified at 6, which may be in form of a storage charge or capsule retained in place to rotate with shaft 5 and emanate particles from the surface. Extending from this charge is a set of radial blades 7, which are preferably of an insulating material having conductive coatings 3 all connected together for establishing a potential for deflecting the charged particles as provided by battery 4.

A pair of toroidal magnets 8 and 9 cause a magnetic field to pass axially through the spaces between blades 7. Electromagnets could be used if desired, but permanent magnets are shown as identified by the poles N-S on the respective magnets. The return field from the outer poles could pass through the shaft, for example. About the ends of blades 7 is a ring of collector material 11, which will receive and hold spent or partially spent charged particles which leaves the source 6. To enhance the travel of the particles in a substantially radial direction, an electric field is established by battery l2 and cylindrical electrode 14. The battery polarity and voltage is such that the charged particles are electrostatically attracted radially from source 6 toward cylindrical electrode 14.

Suitable shielding (not shown) can be set up about the entire array in order to prevent escape of dangerous rays, and one form of such shielding is earth, so that such motors may be operated safely underground.

The motor operates on the electrostatic principles as may be seen from considering a particle path 15. As particles leave source 6 radially as aided by battery 12,

the magnetic field will direct their paths toward the blades 7. The direction of the magnetic field will determine the direction of deflection of the moving particles.

The escaping particles are repelled by electrodes 3 on the insulation surface of the blades 7 because of a like electrostatic polarity to that of the particles at high voltages established by battery 4 with very little power from the source being used. The voltage is established high enough to prevent particles from reaching the blades.

As may be seen from particle path 15, as the particle approaches the blade 7 it will tend to be repelled, and will slow down giving off some of its kinetic energy in the form of work done in rotating the rotor shaft 5. However, the magnetic field will tend to keep deflecting the path of the moving particles back into the blade so that the particles may in fact have a trochoidal path under the influence of the crossed magnetic and electric fields that will, on several occasions, come back into a strong enough electrostatic field force to impart further movement, and, thus, rotate the shaft and spend part of the energy of the particle until it finally enters the collector material 1 1 under the force of the electric field set up between electrode 14 and shaft 5.

In this arrangement, the motor efficiency is high because all the particles are directed generally in a direction aiding randomly oriented particle directions. Also, the configuration is simple and readily achieved, and can attain significant power from using those waste produces available from atomic or nuclear uses.

What is claimed is:

1. A rotary electric motor comprising in combination, a rotary shaft, a source of charged particles of one polarity stored on said shaft to rotate therewith, a set of radial blades extending from said shaft to confine the emanation of particles from said source in a substantially radial direction, an electrostatic electrode surrounding said blades with a potential attracting the charged particles when moving radially to be directed on a path toward said blades, and means establishing the same potential charge on the blades as presented by said particles whereby the particles, as they are directed toward said blades by said magnetic field, exchange kinetic energy by electrostatically repulsing said blades to rotate said shaft, wherein the electrostatic charges between said particles and said blades are similar and prevent the particles from adhering to said blades so that they generally pass in a radial direction toward said electrode.

2. A motor as defined in claim 1 wherein a collecting material is placed adjacent said electrostatic electride to receive said particles.

3. A motor as defined in claim 1 wherein said blades comprise insulating surfaces with electrodes thereon charged to the same potential as the charged particles thereby preventing the particles from striking and adhering to the blades.

4. An electric motor operating from energy imparted by moving atomic or nuclear particles comprising a source of said particles, a rotary power shaft, means confining the particles in the shaft to move away from it, and charged radial blades extending from the rotating shaft to receive electrostatic repulsion from said moving particles.

5. A motor as defined in claim 4 including magnetic field means steering the particles toward said blades.

6. A motor as defined in claim 4 including electric potential field means steering the particles generally a 

1. A rotary electric motor comprising in combination, a rotary shaft, a source of charged particles of one polarity stored on said shaft to rotate therewith, a set of radial blades extending from said shaft to confine the emanation of particles from said source in a substantially radial direction, an electrostatic electrode surrounding said blades with a potential attracting the charged particles when moving radially to be directed on a path toward said blades, and means establishing the same potential charge on the blades as presented by said particles whereby the particles, as they are directed toward said blades by said magnetic field, exchange kinetic energy by electrostatically repulsing said blades to rotate said shaft, wherein the electrostatic charges between said particles and said blades are similar and prevent the particles from adhering to said blades so that they generally pass in a radial direction toward said electrode.
 2. A motor as defined in claim 1 wherein a collecting material is placed adjacent said electrostatic electride to receive said particles.
 3. A motor as defined in claim 1 wherein said blades comprise insulating surfaces with electrodes thereon charged to the same potential as the charged particles thereby preventing the particles from striking and adhering to the blades.
 4. An electric motor operating from energy imparted by moving atomic or nuclear particles comprising a source of said particles, a rotary power shaft, means confining the particles in the shaft to move away from it, and charged radial blades extending from the rotating shaft to receive electrostatic repulsion from said moving particles.
 5. A motor as defined in claim 4 including magnetic field means steering the particles toward said blades.
 6. A motor as defined in claim 4 including electric potential field means steering the particles generally radially away from said shaft. 